Politics as Humor
Mencken comments somewhere that Congress is worth its salary as a source of entertainment. Along similar lines, I was amused by the latest trivial twist in immigration rhetoric.
Someone brought out a Spanish language version of The Star Spangled Banner.
President Bush made the obligatory nationalist noises to the effect that it ought to be sung in English.
Someone offered evidence that Bush himself had, in the past, sung The Star Spangled Banner in Spanish, presumably as part of his efforts to woo hispanic voters.
At that point, I think the best thing the White House could say would be nothing at all.
Instead ...
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the assertion did not ring true to him because, "The president speaks Spanish, but not that well."
Not only do we have a White House spokesman deprecating the abilities of his boss in order to defend against a charge of inconsistency, he is doing it in a fashion that no reasonable person will believe. I don't speak any Spanish at all. But given a little practice and a desire for Hispanic votes I could learn to sing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish, especially with the help of other singers who did know the language.
At least, I could if I could sing. And they haven't yet denied that Bush can sing.